Wrestling History

The WIAA goes back to 1940 to determine the beginning of its wrestling tournament program.

Milwaukee Washington won the first State Meet that was held at Appleton. The next year the tournament was held at West Milwaukee before moving to Neenah for 1942. Then, because of World War II, there were no more State Meets until 1947 when it was held at West Milwaukee. Racine Park hosted the 1948 meet.

The State Tournament moved to the UW Field House in 1949 and was held at that site through 1997. In 1998, the State Individual Tournament moved to the Kohl Center in Madison. The tournament followed the open class format through the years until 1980 when team champions were determined by A-B-C classes. Individual champions continued being determined by an open class through 1979 and thereafter on a three-class basis. Classes were renamed divisions beginning in 1991.

Until 1991-92, team championships were decided on the basis of a point system for individuals finishing first, second, etc., at the State (Individual) Tournament. Beginning in 1991-92, the team champion was determined in a separate team tournament series involving dual meets among the regional champions. The first two such State Team Tournaments were held at UW-Stevens Point. In 1994, the team tournament moved to West Allis Central High School where it remained through 2004 when it then moved to the UW Field House in Madison in 2005.

Ellsworth and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln have appeared in the State Team Tournament 18 times since its inception, the most of any member school. Kaukauna has 19 appearances, and Luxemburg-Casco has 17. Lodi is next with 15, and then Coleman and Stoughton with 14.

There have been 54 different programs that have won State team championships. Wisconsin Rapids has the most titles with 21. Luxemburg-Casco has won 12 championships, Coleman and Mineral Point has 11, Stoughton is next on the list with 10, and then Ellsworth with eight, and Milwaukee South has won seven team titles. Athens has won the team championship six times.

Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln won seven consecutive titles from 1995 through 2001. Five of Milwaukee South's titles came in succession from 1950-54. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln has also strung together five straight titles from 2003-07, as well as four straight from 2009-2012. Four of Mineral Point's titles came in succession from 1980-83, as was Kaukauna's from 2014-17. Winning three times in a row were Milwaukee Washington (1940-42), Coleman (1962-64 and 2010-12), Stoughton (1975-77 and 2018-20), East Troy (1986-88), Athens (1993-95), Luxemburg Casco (2001-03), Mineral Point (2007-09).

Matt Hanutke of Pittsville, Kraig Underwood of Athens, Brian Slater of New Lisbon, Scott Hady of North Crawford, Kevin Black of River Falls, Josh Miller of Arcadia, Cole Wunnicke of Ithaca, Bobby Wunnicke of Dodgeville, Zac Cibula of Luxemburg-Casco, Nick Hagar of Tomahawk, Jesse Thielke of Germantown, Jarod Donar of Cuba City/Southwestern, Jens Lantz of Ellsworth, Hunter Marko of Amery, Jeremy Schoenherr of Stratford, Sam Stuhl of Prescott and Ellsworth, Brock Schlough of Boyceville and Keegan O'Toole of Arrowhead are the only 18 wrestlers that have won four State individual titles.

Sixty-seven other wrestlers have won three individual championships.

Stoughton has produced the most individual State titles with 53. Mineral Point has produced 51 individual champions, and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln has produced 44, while 42 championships have been claimed by Luxemburg-Casco, 39 by Milwaukee South, and 38 individual crowns are possessed Coleman.